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Abstract
Sex talk is an important process between individuals as it can increase greater perceptions about relational and sexual satisfaction. Sex talk is also critical for relational partners as it allows them to discuss topics that can help maintain intimacy within their relationships. However, sex talk can be equally challenging as individuals have to navigate potential topics that one or both partners may perceive as taboo or off limits. Additionally, individuals may not have the efficacy and skills necessary to communicate about sex with their romantic partner. This dissertation project developed and advanced the Supportive Sex Talk Model (SSM) to understand how individuals seek supportive sex messages from their romantic partner. Grounded in the multiple goals theory and the supportive communication literature, SSM identifies the salience of individuals’ message goals association with their evaluation about their partners’ esteem supportive messages. The model also examined how evaluation about their partners’ characteristics acts as an intervening mechanism that further explains the association between their message goals and supportive sex message outcomes. The results of the study indicated that as support recipients’ goal-driven disclosures about sex increased, they had a greater perception about their partners’ supportive messages enhancing their self-esteem. However, goal-driven disclosures about sex were associated with lower quality supportive messages. The findings indicated that support recipients’ message goals had varying outcomes on the type and quality of supportive sex messages through evaluation of their partners’ characteristics. Results of this project contribute to the theoretical and empirical tenets of SSM to suggest that sex talk is a goal-driven process.